Air conditioner with heat regeneration cycle

Abstract

A refrigeration cycle of an air conditioner includes a variable-capacity compressor which has a predetermined maximum capacity. A thermal storage tank filled with a regenerative material is connected between the discharge side of the compressor and an indoor heat exchanger. In a regenerating operation of the refrigeration cycle, the regenerative material deprives the heat of a refrigerant discharged from the compressor and stores it. At this time, the compressor is driven within a capacity range having a maximum value lower than the predetermined maximum capacity, and an indoor fan for delivering air to the indoor heat exchanger is stopped.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An air conditioner having a refrigeration cycle comprising: a variable-capacity compressor having a predetermined maximum capacity;   an indoor heat exchanger;   an expansion device;   an outdoor heat exchanger;   a refrigerant circulation means connecting all of said previously recited components thereby forming a closed circuit through which a refrigerant flows;   an indoor fan for introducing air into the indoor heat exchanger;   an outdoor fan for delivering air to the outdoor heat exchanger; and   regeneration means connected to the circulation means, at a point between the discharge side of the compressor and the expansion device, for storing residual heat of the refrigerant, whereby during an ordinary heating operation and during a regenerating operation heat from the compressor is stored into the regeneration means; and   drive means for, during the regenerating operation, stopping the indoor fan and driving the compressor at a capacity that is less than the predetermined maximum capacity.   
     
     
       2. An air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein said drive means includes an inverter unit for adjusting the capacity of the compressor in accordance with an air-conditioning load of the refrigeration cycle. 
     
     
       3. An air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein said regeneration means comprises: a thermal storage tank;   a regenerative material sealed in the thermal storage tank;   a regenerative heat exchanger connected to the circulation means and located in the regenerative material;   an endothermic heat exchanger located in the regenerative material; and wherein said air conditioner further comprises:   a first line, through which the refrigerant condensed in the indoor heat exchanger is fed to the endothermic heat exchanger; and   a second line, through which the refrigerant passed through the endothermic heat exchanger is fed to the suction side of the compressor.   
     
     
       4. An air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein said refrigeration cycle includes a third line having one end connected to the second line and the other end connected to the circulation means, at a point between the expansion device and the outdoor heat exchanger, for introducing the refrigerant passed through the endothermic heat exchanger to the outdoor heat exchanger. 
     
     
       5. An air conditioner according to claim 4, wherein said drive means includes valve means for controlling the flow of the refrigerant into the first, second, and third lines. 
     
     
       6. An air conditioner according to claim 5, wherein said valve means includes a first valve arranged in the circulation means, at a point between the first line and the expansion device, a second valve arranged in the first line, a third valve arranged in the second line, at a point between the section side of the compressor and the third line, and a fourth valve arranged in the third line. 
     
     
       7. An air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein said refrigeration cycle includes a four-way valve connected to the discharge and suction sides of the compressor. 
     
     
       8. An air conditioner according to claim 7, wherein said regeneration means is located between the discharge side of the compressor and the four-way valve. 
     
     
       9. An air conditioner having a refrigeration cycle comprising: a variable-capacity compressor having a predetermined maximum capacity;   an indoor heat exchanger;   an expansion means;   an outdoor heat exchanger;   a refrigerant circulation means connecting all of said previously recited components, thereby forming a closed circuit through which a refrigerant flows;   an indoor fan for introducing air into the indoor heat exchanger;   an outdoor fan for delivering air to the outdoor heat exchanger; and   regeneration means connected to the circulation means at a point between the discharge side of the compressor and the indoor heat exchanger, for storing heat from the refrigerant discharged from the compressor during an orginary heating operation, rise-time operation, defrosting operation and regenerating operation, said regeneration means including:   a regeneration material;   a regenerative heat exchanger connected to the circulation means and located in the regenerative material;   an endothermic heat exchanger located in the regenerative material;   first bypass means for, in the rise-time operation, introducing the refrigerant passed through the indoor heat exchanger to the suction side of the compressor via the endothermic heat exchanger; and   second bypass means for, in the defrosting operation, introducing the refrigerant passes through the indoor heat exchanger into the outdoor heat exchanger via the endothermic heat exchanger; and   drive means, for in the regenerating operation, stopping the indoor fan and driving the compressor at a capacity that is less than the predetermined maximum capacity.